1 injured in Qassam attack in Sderot

As rocket barrages fell on southern Israel Friday, European Union Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner called for Gaza crossings to be opened and the delivery of fuel and good to be resumed.

"I am profoundly concerned about the consequences for the Gazan population of the complete closure of all Gaza crossings for deliveries of fuel and basic humanitarian assistance," Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

She called on Israel to re-open the crossings for humanitarian and commercial flows, in particular food and medicine, and said facilitation of fuel deliveries for the Gaza Power Plant should be resumed immediately.

The statement continued to say that International law requires the provision of access to essential services such as electricity and clean water to the civilian population.

"Recent infringements of the calm agreed in June must not lead to a renewed cycle of violence. I call on all parties to exercise restraint," she said.

A Qassam rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip hit an electric pole near a house in Sderot on Friday, and Magen David Adom sources reported an 80-year-old woman was lightly injured from shrapnel and seven people suffered from shock from the attack.

Four more rockets hit the Ashkelon area later Friday. One landed inside the city, another fell just outside, and two more landed in nearby open fields shortly after an alarm was sounded. Defense establishment officials said at least two of the rockets were Grad missiles.Three people suffered from shock. 

All victims were evacuated to Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon. A total of 14 rockets were fired on the Western Negev on Friday.

A Sderot resident told Ynet, "We heard very loud screeching and blasts that we almost didn't recognize, my whole house was shaking, even though the fall wasn't anywhere in our area. It was very frightening, people are terrified."

Sdeort Mayor David Boskila has been dealing with the rocket attacks since Thursday and has not had the chance to celebrate his recent victory in municipal elections.

Visiting the rocket landing sites with defense establishment officials, Boskila said, "The government has to hit the Palestinian population hard for this attack and should do it in real time, immediately after the attack.

"I reiterate my demand that the Israeli government do everything possible to stop the shooting. As soon as I officially enter office I will have the authority and mandate to demand this. I really hope this attack will end the week of attacks and that we'll have a peaceful weekend, although, I very much doubt it."

Friday's attack on Sderot (photo: Ze'ev Trachtman)

One rocket landed between houses in a kibbutz in Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. The kibbutz does not have a bomb shelters for all the residents, and a number of homes were damaged.

One resident of the kibbutz said, "We heard a very loud explosion, the houses here trembled, and only by a miracle was nobody hurt, most of the residents weren't outside in the area, and unfortunately, we still do not have bomb shelters in the kibbutz just like a great part of the rest of the kibbutzim in the area." 

IDF bombs terror cell

The IDF bombed a cell of Qassam rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip Friday morning. Palestinian sources reported that at least three of the ring's members were hit in the aerial attack.

The ring that was hit is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad's Mujahideen Brigades. The incident occurred shortly after the ring stopped firing rockets at Israel. The same ring was responsible for firing rockets on Israel Thursday night. 

Sources in the strip said Hamas was not preventing the attacks, but its men were not involved.

On Thursday the IDF planned to allow the transfer of fuel and goods through Gaza crossings, in accordance with Defense Minister Ehud Barak's instructions.

Following a defense establishment re-evaluation, and warnings of planned attacks at the crossings, it was decided to keep them closed.